Generating frequency reference signals

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to methods and systems for generating frequency reference signals from a radio signal received from a large-coverage access component, such as a base station. The radio signal is received and processed by an oscillator to filter out abnormalities. Consequently, a frequency reference signal is generated that is encapsulated into packets and delivered to one or more small-coverage access components using the Precision Timing Protocol or some other protocol that is useable by the small-coverage access components. The small-coverage access components comprise one or more of a femtocell or a picocell.

SUMMARY

A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is providedhere for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure and tointroduce a selection of concepts further described below in thedetailed description. This summary is not intended to identify keyfeatures or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among otherthings, methods and systems for generating a frequency reference signalfor synchronization of one or more small cells from a radio signalreceived from a large-coverage access component, such as a macro cell(e.g., base station, eNodeB). Instead of utilizing the GPS forsynchronization, using embodiments of the present invention, dependenceon GPS by the small cells is unnecessary, as a neighboring macro celltransmits a GPS traceable radio signal that is received by a timinggateway located near the small cells. The timing gateway includes, inone embodiment, a receiving component, a signal processor, anoscillator, and a master component. The master component, in oneembodiment, creates Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) frames that aredelivered to the small cells by way of a physical interface, such as anEthernet physical interface. In other embodiments, the output from theoscillator may be used to derive other traditional clock referencesignals, including, for example, 10 MHz, 1 pps squarewave, DS1, E1, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, andwherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary illustration of a timing gateway implementedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary operating system for carrying outembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of a method for generating frequencyreference signals from a received radio signal, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a method for generating frequencyreference signals from a received radio signal, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments of the present invention isdescribed with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. Butthe description itself is not intended to define what we regard as ourinvention, which is what the claims do. The claimed subject matter mightbe embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations ofsteps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunctionwith other present or future technologies. Terms should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

Throughout the description of the present invention, several acronymsand shorthand notations are used to aid the understanding of certainconcepts pertaining to the associated system and services. Theseacronyms and shorthand notations are solely intended for the purpose ofproviding an easy methodology of communicating the ideas expressedherein and are in no way meant to limit the scope of the presentinvention. The following is a list of these acronyms:

BTS Base Transceiver Station

DSI Digital Signal 1

FDD Frequency Division Duplex

GPS Global Positioning System

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IPv4 Internet Protocol version 4

IPv6 Internet Protocol version 6

LTE Long Term Evolution

PPS Pulse Per Second

PTP Precision Time Protocol

RF Radio Frequency

RNC Radio Network Controller

TDD Time Division Duplex

UDP User Datagram Protocol

Further, various technical terms are used throughout this description. Adefinition of such terms can be found in, for example, Newton's TelecomDictionary by H. Newton, 27th Edition (2013). These definitions areintended to provide a clearer understanding of the ideas disclosedherein but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.The definitions and terms should be interpreted broadly and liberally tothe extent allowed by the meaning of the words offered in theabove-cited reference.

Embodiments of our technology may be embodied as, among other things, amethod, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, theembodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, or an embodimentcombining software and hardware. In one embodiment, the presentinvention takes the form of a computer-program product that includescomputer-useable instructions embodied on one or more computer-readablemedia.

Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and nonremovable media, and contemplate media readable by adatabase, a switch, and various other network devices. Network switches,routers, and related components are conventional in nature, as are meansof communicating with the same. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media comprise computer-storage media andcommunications media.

Computer-storage media, or machine-readable media, include mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storing information.Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions,data structures, program modules, and other data representations.Computer-storage media include, but are not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM,flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs(DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magneticstorage devices. These memory components can store data momentarily,temporarily, or permanently.

Communications media typically store computer-useableinstructions—including data structures and program modules—in amodulated data signal. The term “modulated data signal” refers to apropagated signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged to encode information in the signal. Communications mediainclude any information-delivery media. By way of example but notlimitation, communications media include wired media, such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic,infrared, radio, microwave, spread-spectrum, and other wireless mediatechnologies. Combinations of the above are included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

As mentioned, embodiments of the present invention are directed towardgenerating frequency reference signals that are used to providefrequency synchronization to small cells, such as picocells andfemtocells. While GPS receivers, TDM circuits, and SyncE typically areused to satisfy synchronization requirements, utilizing embodiments ofthe present invention, a radio signal from a neighboring large-coverageaccess component (e.g., macro cell, base station, eNodeB) is sent to atiming gateway for processing the radio signal to generate a frequencyreference signal. The large-coverage access component is close enough inproximity to the timing gateway such that the timing gateway, by way ofa receiving component having an antenna, is able to receive the signalfrom the large-coverage access component. In an embodiment, thelarge-coverage access component is capable of outputting an LTE-FDDradio signal that is traceable to the GPS reference. The timing gatewaygenerates a frequency reference signal that is encapsulated into packetsfor transmission to one or more small-coverage access components, orsmall cells (e.g., femtocell, picocell). In an embodiment, the timinggateway includes a receiving component, a signal processor, anoscillator, and a master component. The timing gateway, in anembodiment, is located near the small-coverage access components suchthat the packets can be delivered to the small-coverage accesscomponents by way of a physical interface, such as by an Ethernetconnection.

Typical applications for small-coverage access components includefilling in gaps in coverage for large-coverage access components andproviding coverage inside of buildings or other structures. Typically, abuilding having one or more small-coverage access components will be inthe vicinity of one or more large-coverage access components, such thatan optimally placed antenna could receive a signal from a neighboringbase station, for example. The higher signal strength of thelarge-coverage access component signal as compared to a different typeof signal, such as a GPS signal, makes the radio signal less vulnerableto interference. In one embodiment, Precision Timing Protocol, whichuses the IEEE-1588v2 protocol is used to transfer the frequencyreference signal from the timing gateway to the collocatedsmall-coverage access components. However, in alternative embodiments,other protocols may be used, and other types of outputs may begenerated, including 10 MHz, 1 pps squarewave, DS1, E1, and other clockreferences.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a method is provided forgenerating frequency reference signals from a received radio signal. Themethod includes receiving a radio signal from a large-coverage accesscomponent, providing the radio signal to a signal processor thatconverts the radio signal into an intermediate reference signal,providing the intermediate reference signal to an oscillator, andfiltering jitter and other abnormalities from the radio signal togenerate a frequency reference signal. The method further includesencapsulating the frequency reference signal into packets that areuseable by one or more small-coverage access components, and deliveringthe packets that comprise the frequency reference signal to the one ormore small-coverage access components through a physical interface.

In a second aspect of the present invention, computer-readable mediahaving computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, whenexecuted, perform a method for generating frequency reference signalsfrom a received radio signal are provided. The method includes receivinga radio signal from a base station in a wireless communications networkand, at a timing gateway, processing the radio signal provided by thebase station to generate an intermediate frequency reference signal. Theprocessing includes filtering the intermediate frequency referencesignal to remove jitter and other abnormalities in the intermediatefrequency reference signal by passing the intermediate frequencyreference signal through an oscillator to produce a frequency referencesignal, encapsulating the frequency reference signal into packets thatare useable by one or more small cells, and communicating the packetscomprising the frequency reference signal to the one or more small cellsby way of a physical interface. The one or more small cells are one ormore of a picocell or a femtocell that communicate data with at leastone mobile device in the wireless communications network and that areinterconnected to the physical interface.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a timing gateway is providedfor generating frequency reference signals from a received radio signal.The timing gateway includes a receiving component having an antenna thatreceives a radio signal from a large-coverage access component. Theradio signal is used to generate a frequency reference signal tosynchronize one or more small-coverage access components, and thelarge-coverage access component transmits radio signals forcommunicating data with mobile devices in a wireless communicationsnetwork and acts as a source of accurate frequency synchronization forthe one or more small-coverage access components. The timing gatewayfurther includes a signal processor that generates an intermediatefrequency reference signal from the radio signal, and an oscillator thatgenerates the frequency reference signal by filtering jitter and otherabnormalities in the intermediate frequency reference signal.Additionally, the timing gateway includes a master component thatencapsulates the frequency reference signal generated by the oscillatorinto packets. The packets are distributed to the one or moresmall-coverage access components by way of a physical interface.Further, the one or more small-coverage access components are collocatedand receive the packets containing the frequency reference signal by wayof the physical interface.

Initially referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary illustration 100 is providedof a timing gateway implemented in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. While the individual components of the timing gatewayare not illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 1 provides a high-level overview ofthe process described herein. Initially, a large-coverage accesscomponent 102 is illustrated. As used herein, a large-coverage accesscomponent 102 refers to a piece of equipment that facilitates wirelesscommunication between user equipment, such as a mobile device, and whatsome skilled artisans refer to as a wireless communications network. Inone embodiment, the large-coverage access component 102 is a macro cell,and more particularly, is a macro cell capable of outputting a Long TermEvolution-Frequency Division Duplex (LTE-FDD) signal. An LTE-FDD signalrefers to a signal sent by a macro cell that is associated with awireless communication network that utilizes LTE technology, and thatoperates using the FDD mode of operation. The transmitted LTE-FDD signalis organized into subframes of one millisecond (ms) duration, and tensubframes constitute a radio frame. There are two carrier frequencies,one for uplink transmission and one for downlink transmission. Duringeach frame, there are consequently ten uplink subframes and ten downlinksubframes, and uplink and downlink transmission can occur simultaneouslywithin a cell.

The network with which the large-coverage access component 102 operatesmay include GSM, CDMA, WAN, WiFi, WiMAX, LTE, LTE Advanced, EVDO, HRPD,eHRPD, and the like. These technologies are listed for exemplarypurposes only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the presentinvention. A wireless communications network may comprise one or more ofthe components illustrated in FIG. 1, but in one embodiment, thewireless communications network includes a cell tower, a BTS, an RNC,gateways, etc. Not all components that make up a wireless communicationsnetwork are shown. Also, not all connections or possible connections areshown. In one embodiment, the large-coverage access component 102 is abase station, such as a base transceiver station (BTS). Thelarge-coverage access component 102 may include a BTS and a cell towerfor example. Further, the large-coverage access component 102 may be anyother device that facilitates large coverage communication betweenmobile devices and the network. For example, if the wirelesscommunications network utilizes LTE technology, the large-coverageaccess component 102 may be termed eNodeB. As used herein, largecoverage refers to the ability of an access component to serve mobiledevices in a large area, which, in some embodiments, would not includesmall WiFi routers, small hotspot devices, picocells, femtocells, andthe like. Large-coverage access components 102 are typically able totransmit radio signals with a high strength to a large area or even to alarge quantity of user devices. In embodiments, the large-coverageaccess component 102 provides coverage to a larger geographical areathan small-coverage access components 110 and 112, which will bediscussed in more detail herein. For example, the typical range of alarge-coverage access component 102, such as a standard base station(e.g., macro cell), may be in the range of 5 to 10 miles, depending onfrequency band, whereas the range of a small-coverage access componentis typically much less.

The large-coverage access component 102, in embodiments describedherein, is able to transmit a radio signal 104 that is received by areceiving component within the timing gateway 106. For example, abuilding with a particularly dense population of individuals havingmobile devices may benefit from the use of one or more small cells, suchas small cells 110 and 112. In this example, an optimally placed antennacould receive the radio signal 104 from a neighboring base station, suchas the large-coverage access component 102. In embodiments, the timinggateway 106 generates a frequency reference signal 108 from the radiosignal 104. The frequency reference signal 108 provides forsynchronization of the small-coverage access components 110 and 112.Synchronization is essential in a wireless communications network, andgenerally refers to a technique applied to ensure that all accesscomponents in a wireless communications network are operating withinperformance parameters defined by the appropriate standard, such as 3GPPor the like. Synchronization is achieved by delivering a specificallyformatted clock signal to an access component's radio. Lack ofsynchronization is destabilizing to a wireless communications networkand may result in dropped calls or in incorrect data being transmittedto a mobile device. For many reasons, including the need to deliverhigher bandwidth and alleviate the burdens on large-coverage accesscomponents, small-coverage access components, such as picocells andfemtocells, are more frequently being used to supplement existing accesscomponents in a network. However, these small-coverage access componentsrequire a different approach to providing synchronization to these sitesthan to large-coverage access components.

Returning to FIG. 1, the particular functioning of the timing gateway106 will be described with more specificity herein, but generally, thetiming gateway 106 is responsible for generating a frequency referencesignal that can be delivered to small-coverage access components thatare collocated, such as in the same or neighboring building structure.In one embodiment, the timing gateway 106 includes a receivingcomponent, a signal processor, an oscillator, and a master component.The timing gateway 106 communicates the frequency reference signal in apacket through a physical interface, such as an Ethernet physicalinterface.

As mentioned, the small-coverage access components 110 and 112 may beany type of access component that provides radio signals to a mobiledevice, therefore facilitating communication between the mobile deviceand the wireless communications network. The small-coverage accesscomponents 110 and 112 cover a smaller geographical area than thelarge-coverage access component 102. In one embodiment, thesmall-coverage access components 110 and 112 are one or more of afemtocell or a picocell. A femtocell is a small, low-powered cellularbase station that serves a smaller coverage area than a large-coverageaccess component 102, such as a standard base station used inconjunction with a cell tower. Sometimes categorized as a small cell, afemtocell connects to the service provider's network via broadband, suchas DSL or cable via a local router. A femtocell allows a serviceprovider to extend service coverage indoors, for example, or at the celledge, especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable.Femtocells are base stations that typically handle voice communicationsin a network.

A picocell is a small cellular base station that also covers a smallgeographical area, such as in-building or on aircraft. In wirelesscommunications network, picocells, like femtocells, are typically usedto extend coverage to indoor areas where outdoor signals do not reachwell, or to add network capacity in areas with very dense phone usage,such as train stations. Picocells are base stations that typicallyhandle data communications in a network.

When certain types of base stations, such as small-coverage accesscomponents (e.g., femtocell or picocell), are deployed in a building, itis difficult to provide a GPS signal to these small-coverage accesscomponents. For example, femtocells usually need a GPS input to maintainfrequency and phase synchronization. In many cases, a clear line ofsight for GPS may be difficult if not impossible. Femtocells andpicocells may be deployed together or deployed separately in a network.As mentioned, femtocells are base stations that handle voicecommunications in a network. Picocells are base stations that handledata communications in the network.

When femtocells are deployed within a building using the GPS signal as asynchronization source, it may be costly if GPS distribution is needed.This problem becomes acute especially with the deployment of aparticular type of femtocell called an eFemto or enterprise femtocellbecause multiple femtocells are required on various floors. eFemtos orenterprise femtocells can be found deployed in businesses ornonresidential buildings. However, femtocells can be deployed in eithera residence or commercial environment. The majority of femtocells willbe deployed in an enterprise area. Because of the deficiencies describedabove with respect to the use of a GPS signal for synchronization ofsmall-coverage access components, methods described herein may be usedto overcome these deficiencies. For example, receiving a radio signal104 from a large-coverage access component 102 provides a high-strengthsignal as compared to a GPS signal, and makes the radio signal 104 lessvulnerable to interference.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an exemplary operating system is depicted forcarrying out embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts anillustrative operating environment, referenced generally by the numeral200, and illustrates an exemplary networking environment that enablesthe generation of a frequency reference signal from a radio signal froma large-coverage access component 202, without use of a GPS signal. Theillustrative operating environment 200 shown in FIG. 2 is merely anexample of one suitable operating environment and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality ofembodiments of the present invention. Neither should the operatingenvironment 200 be interpreted as having any dependency or requirementrelated to any single module/component or combination ofmodules/components illustrated therein.

A large-coverage access component 202 transmits a radio signal 204 to atiming gateway 205. As mentioned, the large-coverage access component202 may be any type of device that is capable of transmitting a radiosignal. In one embodiment, the large-coverage access component 202 is astandard base station that has a large coverage area, as opposed to asmall cell (e.g., picocell, femtocell) that has a small coverage area.In an LTE network, the large-coverage access component 202 may be aneNodeB. Instead of using a GPS as the source of frequencysynchronization, the large-coverage access component 202 is the sourceof the radio signal 204, which is used to generate the frequencyreference signal by the timing gateway 205.

The timing gateway 205 includes a receiving component 208, a signalprocessor 209, an oscillator 210, and a master component 212. Thereceiving component 208 may include an antenna 206 for receiving theradio signal 204 transmitted by the large-coverage access component 202.The signal is then sent to the signal processor 209. Generally, thesignal processor 209 is responsible for processing the received radiosignal and converting it to an intermediate frequency reference signal.The ouput of the signal processor 209 (e.g., intermediate frequencyreference signal) provides the input to oscillator 210. Oscillator 210provides stability to the frequency reference in the timing gateway 205.An exemplary oscillator implemented in the present invention is acrystal oscillator. However, with other implementations, otheroscillators may also be employed depending on the stability or hold-overrequired. Such oscillators could include a rubidium oscillator, cesiumoscillator, or hydrogen maser oscillator. The output of the oscillator210 is a highly accurate reference signal. In one embodiment, theoscillator 210 filters the intermediate frequency reference signal fromthe signal processor 209, provides stability, etc. This reference signalis transmitted to the master component 212, which is responsible forencapsulating the frequency reference signal into packets fortransmission to the small-coverage access components. In one embodiment,the master component 212 creates Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) frames.The packets are transmitted to small-coverage access components througha packet physical interface 214. In one embodiment, the packet physicalinterface 214 is a wired interface, and utilizes an Ethernet connectionto send the packets to the small-coverage access components. In otherembodiments, the TDM physical interface provides TDM frequency referencesignals such as DS1, E1, 1 pps squarewave and 10 MHz.

In one embodiment, PTP, which uses the IEEE-1588v2 protocol, is used totransfer the frequency reference signals from the timing gateway 205 tothe small-coverage access components. PTP is a protocol that is used tosynchronize clocks in a network. As mentioned, PTP is implemented inaccordance to IEEE 1588 protocol, or may be implemented according toanother clock synchronization protocol. PTP can be transported overvarious physical layers. In the embodiment here, PTP is transported overEthernet, also known as PTP over IEEE 802.3 or PTP over Ethernet. PTPcan also be found in implementations such as PTP over UDP over IPv4 andPTP over UDP over IPv6. The IEEE 1588 standard describes a hierarchicalmaster-slave architecture for clock distribution. Under thisarchitecture, a time distribution system consists of one or morecommunication media (network segments), and one or more clocks.

While in one embodiment, the master component 212 outputs a PTP signal,in alternative embodiments, the master component 212 outputs signalsthat utilize other technologies or protocols, such as 10 MHz, 1 ppssquarewave, digital signal 1 (DS1), and E1.

Returning to FIG. 2, as mentioned, the master component 212 encapsulatesthe frequency reference signals into packets for transfer to thesmall-coverage access components through the packet physical interface214. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the small cells, or small-coverageaccess components include a picocell 218 and a femtocell 220, both beinghoused in a building 216. As further described herein, multiplesmall-coverage access components may be collocated, such as in a singlebuilding or other structure to assist with a service provider's coverageand building penetration. The picocell 218 and the femtocell 220 may beinterconnected to the packet physical interface 214 to receive thenecessary frequency synchronization from the timing gateway 205. In oneembodiment, two or more small-coverage access components are collocatedin a single building or structure, or are in separate structures thatare close in proximity.

As mentioned, in embodiments, PTP may not be utilized, and thus thefrequency reference signals may not be delivered to the small cells in apacket through the packet physical interface 214. Instead, the frequencyreference signals may be communicated to the small cells by way of a TDMphysical interface 215. Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) is a method oftransmitting and receiving independent signals over a common signal pathby means of synchronized switches at each end of the transmission lineso that each signal appears on the line only a fraction of time in analternating pattern. Signals such as 10 MHz, 1 pps squarewave, digitalsignal 1 (DS1), and E1 may be transmitted to the small cells by way ofthe TDM physical interface 215.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a flow chart is depicted of a method 300 forgenerating frequency reference signals from a received radio signal, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step 302, aradio signal is received from a large-coverage access component. Inembodiments, the large-coverage access component whose frequencyreference is traceable to GPS or some other highly accurate frequencyreference source is a macro cell, such as a macro cell that is capableof outputting an LTE-FDD signal. Generally, the large-coverage accesscomponent is capable of providing coverage to a larger geographical areathan a small-coverage access component, as it generally sends outstronger signals than a small-coverage access component. In oneembodiment, the large-coverage access component is a base station. Thebase station may utilize GPS technology, but the radio signal itselforiginates from the base station, not the GPS. At step 304, the radiosignal is provided to a signal processor for processing the radio signalto generate an intermediate frequency reference signal. At step 305, theintermediate frequency reference signal is provided to an oscillator. Atstep 306, the radio signal is oscillated to generate a frequencyreference signal from the intermediate frequency reference signal. Theoscillator filters jitter and other abnormalities from the radio signal,and provides stability for the reference signal.

At step 308, the frequency reference signal is encapsulated intopackets. In one embodiment, PTP is the protocol used to transport thefrequency reference signal to the small-coverage access components. Asmentioned, PTP is a mechanism for transporting a value of time from agrandmaster clock in the form of a timestamp across packet networks. Thesyntax of the protocol is master-slave, and it has means for the slaveclock to measure packet flight times on the uplink and downlink sides ofthe path. PTP may deliver both a phase signal in the form of one pulseper second and frequency. Other protocols that may be used inembodiments described herein to deliver the frequency reference signalinclude Network Time Protocol, SyncE, or a combination thereof. Once thefrequency reference signal is encapsulated into packets according to thePTP or another protocol, the packets are delivered to small-coverageaccess components, which, in embodiments, include picocells and/orfemtocells.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a method 400 for generating frequencyreference signals from a received radio signal, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Initially, a radio signal isreceived from a base station at step 402. The base station may beneighboring (e.g., close in proximity) to a grouping of collocated smallcells in a common building or other structure. In embodiments, thesignal is not received from a GPS, but instead from a base station, suchas a base station or other macro cell that is capable of outputting anLTE-FDD radio signal. At step 404, at a timing gateway, the radio signalis processed to generate a frequency reference signal. The timinggateway, in one embodiment, includes a receiving component that receivesa radio signal from a neighboring macro cell, such as a base station, asignal processor for converting the radio signal into a frequencyreference signal, an oscillator for filtering out abnormalities in theradio signal, and a master component for encapsulating the frequencyreference signal generated by the oscillator into packets. The packetscomprising the frequency reference signals are then communicated to thesmall cells by way of a physical interface, shown at step 406.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been describedwith the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinationsand are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for generating frequency referencesignals from a received radio signal, the method comprising: receiving aradio signal from a large-coverage access component; providing the radiosignal to a signal processor that converts the radio signal into anintermediate reference signal; providing the intermediate referencesignal to an oscillator; filtering jitter and other abnormalities fromthe radio signal to generate a frequency reference signal; encapsulatingthe frequency reference signal into packets that are useable by one ormore small-coverage access components; and delivering the packets thatcomprise the frequency reference signal to the one or moresmall-coverage access components through a physical interface.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the physical interface is an Ethernetphysical interface.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the large-coverageaccess component is not a Global Positioning System (GPS).
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the large-coverage access component is associatedwith a communications network that utilizes Long Term Evolution (LTE)technology.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the large-coverage accesscomponent is capable of outputting an LTE-Frequency Division Duplex(FDD) signal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the large-coverageaccess component is a base station.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe large-coverage access component is an eNodeB component in an LTEnetwork.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency referencesignals are encapsulated into the packets utilizing the Precision TimingProtocol (PTP).
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moresmall-coverage access components are collocated in a single building orstructure.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moresmall-coverage access components are one or more of a femtocell or apicocell.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical interfaceutilizes an Ethernet connection to each of the one or moresmall-coverage access components.
 12. Non-transitory computer-readablemedia having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that,when executed, perform a method for generating frequency referencesignals from a received radio signal, the method comprising: receiving aradio signal from a base station in a wireless communications network;at a timing gateway, processing the radio signal provided by the basestation to generate an intermediate frequency reference signal, theprocessing comprising, (1) filtering the intermediate frequencyreference signal to remove jitter and other abnormalities in theintermediate frequency reference signal by passing the intermediatefrequency reference signal through an oscillator to produce a frequencyreference signal, (2) encapsulating the frequency reference signal intopackets that are useable by one or more small cells; communicating thepackets comprising the frequency reference signal to the one or moresmall cells by way of a physical interface, wherein the one or moresmall cells are one or more of a picocell or a femtocell thatcommunicate data with at least one mobile device in the wirelesscommunications network and that are interconnected to the physicalinterface.
 13. The media of claim 12, wherein the radio signal is anLTE-FDD signal.
 14. The media of claim 13, wherein the timing gatewaycomprises a receiving component having an antenna for receiving theLTE-FDD signal, a single processor, the oscillator, and a mastercomponent for encapsulating the frequency reference signal into thepackets.
 15. The media of claim 14, wherein the packets are communicatedto the one or more small cells by way of the Precision Timing Protocol.16. The media of claim 12, wherein the one or more small cells arecollocated in a single building or structure.
 17. A timing gateway forgenerating frequency reference signals from a received radio signal, thetiming gateway comprising: a receiving component having an antenna thatreceives a radio signal from a large-coverage access component, theradio signal used to generate a frequency reference signal tosynchronize one or more small-coverage access components, thelarge-coverage access component transmitting radio signals forcommunicating data with mobile devices in a wireless communicationsnetwork and acting as a source of accurate frequency synchronization forthe one or more small-coverage access components; a signal processorthat generates an intermediate frequency reference signal from thereceived ratio signal; an oscillator that generates the frequencyreference signal by filtering jitter and other abnormalities in theintermediate frequency reference signal; and a master component thatencapsulates the frequency reference signal generated by the oscillatorinto packets, wherein the packets are distributed to the one or moresmall-coverage access components by way of a physical interface, whereinthe one or more small-coverage access components are collocated andreceive the packets containing the frequency reference signal by way ofthe physical interface.
 18. The timing gateway of claim 17, wherein thelarge-coverage access component is not a Global Positioning System(GPS).
 19. The timing gateway of claim 17, wherein the large-coverageaccess component is a base station that is associated with acommunications network that utilizes Long Term Evolution (LTE)technology.
 20. The timing gateway of claim 17, wherein thelarge-coverage access component is capable of outputting anLTE-Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) signal.